Should I use Windows or Linux on my Netbook?
Largely, the the idea of using Linux or Windows on a Netbook is just a matter of personal opinion. Windows XP, the most common operating system found on Netbooks, is the only version of Windows that is largely capable of running on a Netbook due to resource capacity issues. (There may not be enough storage space to run Windows Vista and up, nor enough RAM or processing power.)
To jump into it: Non-tech-savvy people should stick with what they already know. Windows is great in the respect that it is already well known and widely used in my places. Linux, on the other hand, is progressively becoming easier and easier to use.
In general, I recommend Linux. Overall, it isn’t much different from Windows anymore. Also, due to the way the filesystem is built on Linux, your computer will withstand power losses much better and will never have to be defragmented. Also, since Linux does not use a master registry program, and since there are very few Linux programs that demand to run at startup (or services, for that matter), Linux will not slow down overtime as quickly as Windows does.
Keep in mind, Netbooks are not for gaming. No affordable Netbook on the market today (2009, of course,) is capable of running graphics-intensive games. Linux’s biggest disadvantages (though rapidly disappearing) is its’ lack of support for games — on a Netbook, this should not be a concern. If it is, you should be looking into getting a regular old laptop.
>>Try using Linux on your current computer. You can install Linux without replacing Windows by using a program called Wubi. Wubi lets you install Linux under your Windows partition, under the Windows bootloader. It is very safe and will not cause the problems that messing with partitions can cause. Carefully inspect the office programs and how the Interface looks.
Using Linux will save you some money, as it is free. Keep in mind though, if the price of the Linux installation and the Windows installation is the same, you might as well get the Windows install, and then install Linux from there. If you change your mind, you can always go back.
It is possible to use both
It is possible, by properly partitioning your hard drives, to use both operating systems. Install Windows first, then Linux. In a graphical setup which Linux provides for installation, you will be guided through the setup so that you will be able to dualboot your operating systems, allowing you to choose which one you desire to use upon boot.
An even easier way is to just use Wubi on your Netbook, just like you would on a laptop or desktop PC.
Keep in mind, your documents that are in Windows do not sync with those in Linux, unless you incorporate special software to do so, or set Windows up to read the EXT filesystem.
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